Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The Mansion of Mock Lights -- Part I (a story)

Some say babysitting is scary.Others insist it is joyful.But
if you are Olivia Jenkins, you understand the true horrors that dining parents
and a silver lighter can do.

The night began when Mr. and Mrs. Evans decided to leave their
daughter, Eliza, with a babysitter. Olivia
Jenkins from 264 Old Chesterfield Lane was 16 at the time, and this was her
first babysitting job.She was as hyper
as a child on a sugar rush as she whispered excitedly to her Siamese cat,
Schmoplums, who was sitting on Olivia’s vintage black leather coat and purring
in response.

“I know I’ll do well tonight.Don’t you?”

Schmoplums just meowed and nestled deeper into the warm lining of
Olivia’s jacket.

Olivia swung her chocolate locks around as she surveyed the street for
house number 32.This street was full of
mansions with rich, shiny columns lining their fronts, and trimmed, green beds
of grass bordering their neatly paved driveways.Olivia spotted a steel number 32 on the white
front door of a particular expensive-looking house with pure marble columns on
the front porch-area.Olivia looked
reluctantly down at her gray sweats and wondered regrettably if she should’ve
changed into a party dress.Olivia made
her way up to the front steps and jabbed the doorbell.

The door opened and a young woman dressed in an old-fashioned maid’s
uniform welcomed Olivia in with a French accent.She lead Olivia through a long, elegant
hallway lined with professional photographs of the same gorgeous young
girl.As the maid led Olivia into an
enormous dining room with a triple-tiered chandelier, an even more elegant couple
appeared in the doorway.Mrs. Evans had
shiny, mahogany hair that was in the most obscure and fancy bun Olivia had ever
seen.She had an olive colored,
magnificent dress that was floor-length and amazing.Along with the dress, she wore lavender
earrings and shoes, and a pale brown mink shawl and matching purse.

The teardrops dangling from her ears sparkled like real diamonds.They probably were, Olivia decided.She tried to hide her drab, hideous-looking
sweats as the princess six-inch lavender heals clicked across the highly-polished
floor.Mr. Evans wore a charcoal suit
and a lavender and olive striped tie.They matched perfectly.

“We may spoil our daughter violently, but these next words are not for
this reason.Do not, no matter what, let
her go to sleep by herself.She has an
issue that involves it.Eliza must be
under adult supervision at all times.Also, would you like to borrow something to wear?If you wear that, you won’t hear the end of
it from Eliza.”

“Oh, thanks,” Olivia mumbled shyly, now so embarrassed her ears were
crimson.

“Carl, go collect something from my closet on the right side, while I
discuss more with Miss Olivia here,” Delia chirped, now back to her platinum
grin and harmonic voice again.

“Mindy and Ludwig will be accompanying you tonight, so it shouldn’t be
impossible to have at least one adult eye on Eliza at all times.”

As Delia spoke, the French maid from earlier and an official-looking
butler with a bald spot came into the room.Olivia was slightly frustrated that Delia didn’t trust her to do the job
of watching a harmless child alone, but immediately regretted it as soon as
Mindy under her casual ponytail and started using bobby pins from her lacy
apron to pin up her hair almost as gracefully as Delia’s.Carl finally came down the stairs with a
sunny-yellow dress that was made of satin and chiffon, covered in sparkles, and
was probably more expensive than anything Olivia owned.

After Olivia had changed, Carl notified her that dinner for the four of
them was on the table.Olivia exchanged
phone numbers and finally, Eliza was summoned.

Eiza came downstairs in a plum colored dress with a matching bow in her
curly, blond hair, which was down.

Olivia and Mr. Evans, along with Mindy the maid and Ludwig the butler,
made light conversation until it was time to go.

As Delia and Carl said goodbye to their 7-year-old daughter, Olivia
noticed Schmoplums snuggling with an identical Siamese cat.

“That’s Archibald,” Ludwig whispered to her.Olivia watched to the car pull away from the
long driveway and then checked her watch.